Hands on: Apple Watch Series 4 Hermes
Apple Watch Edition may be long gone, but that doesn't mean Apple culled all premium Watch offerings from its lineup. AppleInsider goes hands on with the pricey $1300-plus Hermes Apple Watch Series 4 to see what the higher price tag gets you.
There are a number of Hermes configurations available, but we chose the Stainless Steel Case with Indigo/Craie/Orange Swift Single Tour band.
A textured cardboard box is on the outside, sporting signature Hermes orange. Two boxes slide from within, one housing the watch and the components, the other the bundled band.
Every Hermes Apple Watch Series 4 comes not only with the bundled leather band, but a complimentary orange sports band as well.
Also tucked in is the magnetic charging puck (stainless steel housing rather than the plastic that comes with the aluminum Apple Watch) and a 5-watt wall charger.
Our Swift Single Tour band is a two-piece setup, with stainless steel lugs and a stainless steel buckle. The buckle is imprinted with the Hermes logo.
There are several other styles on offer, but they all have a similar high degree of quality.
Along with the bands, the other aspect that sets the Hermes watch apart from regular models is the exclusive Hermes watch face.
You can change the typeface of the face, the number of digits displayed, the center complication and style/color.
As a nice touch, there are different colors and styles to match each of the different bands. We have the Indigo/Craie/Orange band and there is an Indigo/Crai (off-white) face to go with it.
You get the exclusive face, leather band and sports band. Otherwise, it is the same cellular stainless steel Apple Watch Series 4 available with Apple's first-party bands and straps.
Apple Watch Series 4 models start reasonably at $399. The Hermes options make quite the leap, easily getting into four digits.
Those interested in a premium watch experience can purchase Apple Watch Hermes at Apple. Other Series 4 models can be found in our regularly updated Apple Watch Series 4 Price Guide.
There are a number of Hermes configurations available, but we chose the Stainless Steel Case with Indigo/Craie/Orange Swift Single Tour band.
The box
The premium experience all starts with the box.A textured cardboard box is on the outside, sporting signature Hermes orange. Two boxes slide from within, one housing the watch and the components, the other the bundled band.
Every Hermes Apple Watch Series 4 comes not only with the bundled leather band, but a complimentary orange sports band as well.
Also tucked in is the magnetic charging puck (stainless steel housing rather than the plastic that comes with the aluminum Apple Watch) and a 5-watt wall charger.
The band
All Hermes bands are top notch. They are made of super soft leather and are extremely comfortable. Other leather bands can take some time to wear in, but not these, regardless of which one you pick up.Our Swift Single Tour band is a two-piece setup, with stainless steel lugs and a stainless steel buckle. The buckle is imprinted with the Hermes logo.
There are several other styles on offer, but they all have a similar high degree of quality.
Exclusive faces
Along with the bands, the other aspect that sets the Hermes watch apart from regular models is the exclusive Hermes watch face.
You can change the typeface of the face, the number of digits displayed, the center complication and style/color.
As a nice touch, there are different colors and styles to match each of the different bands. We have the Indigo/Craie/Orange band and there is an Indigo/Crai (off-white) face to go with it.
Similarities
So what do you really get when picking up Apple Watch Hermes?You get the exclusive face, leather band and sports band. Otherwise, it is the same cellular stainless steel Apple Watch Series 4 available with Apple's first-party bands and straps.
The choice is yours
Apple Watch Series 4 models start reasonably at $399. The Hermes options make quite the leap, easily getting into four digits.
Those interested in a premium watch experience can purchase Apple Watch Hermes at Apple. Other Series 4 models can be found in our regularly updated Apple Watch Series 4 Price Guide.
Comments
The watch starts at 399 but stainless steel 44mm with a sport band is £749 so the Hermes edition is only 650 more - still steep for a leather band and a watch face but the difference is not that extreme than the smaller non cellular aluminium models.
2) You're not getting the watch faces, which I'd think is also part of the appeal. Maybe someone with money just happens to like those watch faces. They may even swap it out for a different band. Personally, I go the other way. I'm waiting for the Nike version to drop because I like those bands with the holes in them but I never use their Nike watch faces and I don't pay money to buy the Nike band nor keep the one it came with in a box.
3) Apple used Hermès—why can't AI spell it correctly?—to help legitimatize their newfangled smartwatch vying for the same location that classic watch styles are places. In part, I'm sure it worked, but is this still something Apple is benefiting from since it's only watch faces (they have to make and get approve, or receive from Hermès and approve), and watch bands (which I assume that Hermès makes then sends to Apple, although Apple may send them the lugs and clasps in which to stitch their leather to before sending back to Apple).
Regardless, it's probably a very low cost for Apple that even a small number of buyers at the higher prices could be high enough to outweigh Apple's costs for directly promoting Hermès, but I wonder now that Apple is the #1 watch maker in the world if their partnership is necessary (ignoring any contractual obligation that may still be in play.
4) Noting many of the comments on tech forums, no one likes the Hermès bands. I'm certainly a not a fan, but I'm also not the target market… and neither are they. I think there's a world of potential choices out there for customers that Apple could lean into with little effort. Perhaps making the Watch box and bands separate boxes this year is a step in that direction. Instead of Apple just allowing 3rd-party bands to be sold that will fit their Watch, they directly sell from their website and get a little a money from the deal while the 3rd-party gets extra notoriety and potentially not having to make the lugs but simply buying them from Apple.
If this is still viable and if Apple really wants to go after more of the middle and high end (I think the low-end watch is a worthless market and standalone fitness trackers will see a steady reduction until it's just those that don't have a smartphone in which to pair and setup, and find all the features of a smartwatch confusing. But could getting partnerships with other high-end metal and leather makers help to both increase sales and help make the Watch more of a fashion statement?
* Is Apple still using that term?
I've never handled the Hermès lineup, but looking closely at hi-res pics, it's easy to see that there are no bands on Amazon that are anywhere nearly equal in quality. I bought the Classic Buckle band for my Stainless Steel watch because I really like the combination. None of the aftermarket bands I've seen match it's level of execution. There are some nice third-party leather bands for the money, but they aren't as nice as the Classic Buckle, so that's what I got.
Anybody who buys things to impress or fool others, is a little sad, in my book. Buy or don't, whatever makes you happy.
Obviously, Apple is marketing style and lifestyle with the Watches. It's what they do with just about every product they make. Big surprise.
The current Hermès lineup is not for the fashion-shy. Nothing wrong with that. It looks like it will be a long time before those of us in the cheap seats see some truly nice rectangular watch faces. So if you've got the money to pay for the style you like, great. I don't understand why that's a problem for other people.
It does save Apple time assembly time, and should they change the factory options, it's probably a little easier update the forthcoming inventory.
But having the Watch separate from the bands strikes me as a less elegant, more DIY presentation. Sure, it's no trouble to put it together, but it dampens the experience a tad. But Apple's been steadily moving away from The Experience as evidenced by the changes in packaging with each generation of the Watch.